TCM herbs treat diseases is based on the various natures. The properties and action of Chinese herbs refer to their natures and effects relating to treatments. When diseases occur, it is deemed to be caused by the pathogenic factors acting on our body, which result in the imbalance of Yin and Yang, mutual growth and reduction between pathogenic factors and the healthy energy, and the disorder of the organs. The basic principle of treating diseases with Chinese herbs is to eliminate causes of diseases, dispel pathogenic factors or restore the coordination of the functions of organs so that excess and deficiency of Yin or Yang can be corrected and the diseases can be cured.

The properties of Chinese herbs can be classified into four natures and five flavours, floating and sinking action and meridians relationship. In fact, Chinese medicine can be defined as the energy medicine.

Four natures refer to cold, hot, warm and cool. In short, cold and cool medicine work to clear away heat, purge excessive energy and to eliminate toxic materials. On the other hand, warm and hot medicine tend to expel cold and restoring the Yang energy.

Five flavours refer to the five different tastes, they are pungent, sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Herbs with different flavours show different action in the treatment.

Lifting, lowering, floating and sinking refer to four different directions of actions of the herbs in human body when they are taken. Different diseases often appear to move upward, downward, towards the exterior or the interior. While treating a disease, it is based on of these lifting, lowering, floating and sinking nature to get to the best therapeutic effect.

Meridians relationship refers to that Chinese herbs produce their therapeutic effects on some portion of the body in preference. In other words, their therapeutic action is mainly related to some organs relating to the meridians or channels.